A wedding timeline, schedule, or event plan is the chronology or order in which all actions will occur on the wedding day. For a wedding, the actions are many: Get hair styled, flower girl arrives, photographer takes groomsmen’s photos… and the list could go on....and on...and on!
The timeline can be created at any time once you get engaged and start planning. Getting started early will help make sure decisions being made throughout the process, such as whether the photographer leaving at 9pm will mean they miss your last dance and departure! While it’s unwise to intentionally leave anything to the last minute, the timeline is something that it’s never too late to start and complete. Timelines can be elaborate or simple, but the important thing is to have one! A wedding day without a plan is guaranteed to be stressful and potentially costly if the schedule gets delayed enough to run beyond contracted time limits. So creating a timeline will be among the most important pieces of your wedding planning puzzle to reduce stress and last minute expenses.
Creating your timeline starts with good organization. If you don’t have everything you need to get started, you will leave important parts off the schedule. Organize your ideas and your materials for efficient use of time. You can create the timeline with paper and pen or on computer, but starting with a rough draft or brainstorm will yield your best results. Creating an effective timeline means you will have to do a little math! Allow a realistic amount of time for each event element, venue change, and travel and set up. This is where the timeline will either create a seamless day or show its weaknesses. Remember the sum of the time allowed for the parts cannot be greater than the time available for the entire event!
